Raid controller for a semiconductor storage device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a RAID controlled storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type, which provides data storage/reading services through a PCI-Express interface. The RAID controller typically includes a disk mount coupled to a set of PCI-Express SSD memory disk units, the set of PCI-Express SSD memory disk units comprising: a set of volatile semiconductor memories; a disk monitoring unit coupled to the disk mount for monitoring the set of PCI-Express memory disk units; a disk plug and play controller coupled to the disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for controlling the disk mount; a high speed host interface coupled to the disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for providing high-speed host interface capabilities; a disk controller coupled to the high speed host interface and the disk monitoring unit; and 
     a host interface coupled to the disk controller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related in some aspects to commonly-owned,co-pending application Ser. No. 12/758,937, entitled SEMICONDUCTORSTORAGE DEVICE”, filed on Apr. 13, 2010. This application is alsorelated in some aspects to commonly-owned, co-pending application no (tobe provided), entitled RAID CONTROLLED SEMICONDUCTOR STORAGE DEVICE”,filed on (to be provided).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a RAID controller for a semiconductorstorage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to a storage device of a PCI-Express type forproviding data storage/reading services through a PCI-Express interface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the need for more computer storage grows, more efficient solutionsare being sought. As is known, there are various hard disk solutionsthat store/read data in a mechanical manner as a data storage medium.Unfortunately, data processing speed associated with hard disks is oftenslow. Moreover, existing solutions still use interfaces that cannotcatch up with the data processing speed of memory disks havinghigh-speed data input/output performance as an interface between thedata storage medium and the host. Therefore, there is a problem in theexisting area in that the performance of the memory disk cannot beproperty utilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a raid controller for astorage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type that supports a low-speeddata processing speed for a host. Specifically, embodiments of thisinvention provide a RAID controller coupled to one or more (i.e., a setof) semiconductor storage devices (SSDs). Among other things, the SSDsadjust a synchronization of a data signal transmitted/received betweenthe host and a memory disk during data communications between the hostand the memory disk through a PCI-Express interface and simultaneouslysupport a high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, therebysupporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed processingin an existing interface environment at the maximum.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a RAID controlledsemiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: an SSD memory disk unitcomprising a plurality of memory disks provided having a plurality ofsemiconductor memories; a RAID controller coupled to the SSD memory diskunit; a host interface unit which interfaces between the SSD memory diskunit and a host; and a controller unit coupled to the RAID controllerconfigured to adjust a synchronization of a data signal communicatedbetween the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to controla communication speed between the host interface unit and the SSD memorydisk unit.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a RAID controlledPCI-Express type semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising: an SSDmemory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disks provided havinga plurality of volatile semiconductor memories; a RAID controllercoupled to the SSD memory disk unit; a PCI-Express host interface unitwhich interfaces between the SSD memory disk unit and a host; acontroller unit coupled to the RAID controller that adjusts asynchronization of a data signal communicated between the PCI-Expresshost interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to control a datacommunication speed between the PCI-Express host interface unit and theSSD memory disk unit; and the controller unit comprising: a memorycontrol module which controls data input/output of the SSD memory diskunit; a DMA control module which controls the memory control module tostore data in the SSD memory disk unit or reads data from the SSD memorydisk unit to provide the data to the host, according to an instructionfrom the host received through the PCI-Express host interface unit; abuffer which buffers data according to control of the DMA controlmodule; and a synchronization control module for synchronizing acommunication speed of a data signal.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for providinga RAID controlled semiconductor storage device (SSD), comprising:providing a SSD memory disk unit comprising a plurality of memory disksprovided having a plurality of semiconductor memories; providing a RAIDcontroller coupled to the SSD memory disk unit; providing a hostinterface unit which interfaces between the SSD memory disk unit and ahost; and providing a controller unit coupled to the RAID controllerconfigured to adjust a synchronization of a data signal communicatedbetween the host interface unit and the SSD memory disk unit to controla communication speed between the host interface unit and the SSD memorydisk unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a RAIDcontrolled storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a more specific diagram of a RAID controller coupled to a setof SSDs.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the RAID controller of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of thehigh speed SSD of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of acontroller unit in FIG. 1.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merelyschematic representations, not intended to portray specific parametersof the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typicalembodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered aslimiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numberingrepresents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments will be described more fully herein with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown.This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments setforth therein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so thatthis disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey thescope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In thedescription, details of well-known features and techniques may beomitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limited to this disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms “a”, “an”, etc. do notdenote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of atleast one of the referenced items. It will be further understood thatthe terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or“including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. Moreover, as used herein, the termRAID means redundant array of independent disks (originally redundantarray of inexpensive disks). In general, RAID technology is a way ofstoring the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) onmultiple hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, I/O(input/output) operations can overlap in a balanced way, improvingperformance. Since multiple disks increase the mean time betweenfailures (MTBF), storing data redundantly also increases faulttolerance.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that termssuch as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should beinterpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning inthe context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will notbe interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expresslyso defined herein.

Hereinafter, a RAID storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) typeaccording to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

As indicated above, embodiments of the present invention provide a RAIDcontroller for a storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type thatsupports a low-speed data processing speed for a host. This is typicallyaccomplished by adjusting a synchronization of a data signaltransmitted/received between the host and a memory disk during datacommunications between the host and the memory disk through aPCI-Express interface and by simultaneously supporting a high-speed dataprocessing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performanceof the memory to enable high-speed processing in an existing interfaceenvironment at the maximum.

Provided is a RAID controlled storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e)type, which provides data storage/reading services through a PCI-Expressinterface. The RAID controller typically includes a disk mount coupledto a set of PCI-Express SSD memory disk units, the set of PCI-ExpressSSD memory disk units comprising a set of volatile semiconductormemories; a disk monitoring unit coupled to the disk mount formonitoring the set of PCI-Express memory disk units; a disk plug andplay controller coupled to the disk monitoring unit and the disk mountfor controlling the disk mount; a high speed host interface coupled tothe disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for providing high-speedhost interface capabilities; a disk controller coupled to the high speedhost interface and the disk monitoring unit; and a host interfacecoupled to the disk controller.

The storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type supports a low-speeddata processing speed for a host by adjusting synchronization of a datasignal transmitted/received between the host and a memory disk duringdata communications between the host and the memory disk through aPCI-Express interface, and simultaneously supports a high-speed dataprocessing speed for the memory disk, thereby supporting the performanceof the memory to enable high-speed data processing in an existinginterface environment at the maximum. It is understood in advance thatalthough PCI-Express technology will be utilized in a typicalembodiment, other alternatives are possible. For example, the presentinvention could utilize SAS/SATA technology in which a SAS/SATA typestorage device is provided that utilizes a SAS/SATA interface.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a diagram schematically illustrating aconfiguration of a PCI-Express type, RAID controlled storage device(e.g., for providing storage for a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type is shown. Asdepicted, FIG. 1 shows a RAID controlled PCI-Express type storage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the invention which includes a memory diskunit 100 comprising: a plurality of memory disks having a plurality ofvolatile semiconductor memories (also referred to herein as high speedSSDs 100); a RAID controller 800 coupled to SSDs 100; an interface unit200 (e.g., PCI-Express host) which interfaces between the memory diskunit and a host; a controller unit 300; an auxiliary power source unit400 that is charged to maintain a predetermined power using the powertransferred from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit; apower source control unit 500 that supplies the power transferred fromthe host through the PCI-Express host interface unit to the controllerunit, the memory disk unit, the backup storage unit, and the backupcontrol unit which, when the power transferred from the host through thePCI-Express host interface unit is blocked or an error occurs in thepower transferred from the host, receives power from the auxiliary powersource unit and supplies the power to the memory disk unit through thecontroller unit; a backup storage unit 600 that stores data of thememory disk unit; and a backup control unit 700 that backs up datastored in the memory disk unit in the backup storage unit, according toan instruction from the host or when an error occurs in the powertransmitted from the host.

The memory disk unit 100 includes a plurality of memory disks providedwith a plurality of volatile semiconductor memories for high-speed datainput/output (for example, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, SDRAM, and the like), andinputs and outputs data according to the control of the controller 300.The memory disk unit 100 may have a configuration in which the memorydisks are arrayed in parallel.

The PCI-Express host interface unit 200 interfaces between a host andthe memory disk unit 100. The host may be a computer system or the like,which is provided with a PCI-Express interface and a power source supplydevice.

The controller unit 300 adjusts synchronization of data signalstransmitted/received between the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 andthe memory disk unit 100 to control a data transmission/reception speedbetween the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 and the memory disk unit100.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a more detailed diagram of a RAID controlledSSD 810 is shown. As depicted, a PCI-e type RAID controller 800 can bedirectly coupled to any quantity of SSDs 100. Among other things, thisallows for optimum control of SSDs 100. Among other things, the use of aRAID controller 800:

-   -   1. Supports the current backup/restore operations.    -   2. Provides additional and improved backup function by        performing the following:        -   a) The internal backup controller determines the backup            (user's request order or the status monitor detects power            supply problems);        -   b) The Internal backup controller requests a data backup to            SSDs;        -   c) The internal backup controller requests internal backup            device to backup data immediately;        -   d) Monitors the status of the backup for the SSDs and            internal backup controller; and        -   e) Reports the internal backup controller's status and            end-op.    -   3. Provides additional and improved restore function by        performing the following:        -   a) The internal backup controller determines the restore            (user's request order or the status monitor detects power            supply problems);        -   b) The internal backup controller requests a data restore to            the SSDs;        -   c) The internal backup controller requests internal backup            device to restore data immediately;        -   d) Monitors the status of the restore for the SSDs and            internal backup controller; and        -   e) Reports the internal backup controller status and end-op.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a diagram of the RAID controller 800 of FIGS. 1and 2 as coupled to a set (at least one) of SSDs 100 is shown in greaterdetail. As depicted, RAID controller generally comprises: a hostinterface 820; a disk controller 830 coupled to host interface 820; anda high-speed host interface 840. Also coupled to disk controller 830 isa disk monitoring unit 860, which is coupled to the disk mount 850. Ingeneral, SSDs 100 are mounted on disk mount 850 and are detected by diskmonitoring unit 860. In addition, disk plug and play (PnP controller)controls the functions and/or detection functions related to disk mount850. In general, RAID controller 100 controls the operation of SSDs 100.This includes the detection of SSDs 100, the storage and retrieval ofdata therefrom, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a diagram schematically illustrating aconfiguration of the high speed SSD 100 is shown. As depicted,SSD/memory disk unit 100 comprises: a host interface 202 (e.g.,PCI-Express host) (which can be interface 200 of FIG. 1, or a separateinterface as shown); a DMA controller 302 interfacing with a backupcontrol module 700; an ECC controller; and a memory controller 306 forcontrolling one or more blocks 604 of memory 602 that are used as highspeed storage.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of thecontroller unit provided in the PCI-Express type storage deviceaccording to the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, the controller unit300 according to the embodiment includes: a memory control module 310which controls data input/output of the memory disk unit 100; a DMA(Direct Memory Access) control module 320 which controls the memorycontrol module 310 to store the data in the memory disk unit 100, orreads data from the memory disk unit 100 to provide the data to thehost, according to an instruction from the host received through thePCI-Express host interface unit 200; a buffer 330 which buffers dataaccording to the control of the DMA control module 320; asynchronization control module 340 which, when receiving a data signalcorresponding to the data read from the memory disk unit 100 by thecontrol of the DMA control module 320 through the DMA control module 320and the memory control module 310, adjusts synchronization of a datasignal so as to have a communication speed corresponding to aPCI-Express communications protocol to transmit the synchronized datasignal to the PCI-Express host interface unit 200, and when receiving adata signal from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit200, adjusts synchronization of the data signal so as to have atransmission speed corresponding to a communications protocol (forexample, PCI, PCI-x, or PCI-e, and the like) used by the memory diskunit 100 to transmit the synchronized data signal to the memory diskunit 100 through the DMA control module 320 and the memory controlmodule 310; and a high-speed interface module 350 which processes thedata transmitted/received between the synchronization control module 340and the DMA control module 320 at high speed. Here, the high-speedinterface module 350 includes a buffer having a double buffer structureand a buffer having a circular queue structure and processes the datatransmitted/received between the synchronization control module 340 andthe DMA control module 320 without loss at high speed by buffering thedata transmitted/received between the synchronization control module 340and the DMA control module 320 using the buffers and adjusting dataclocks.

The auxiliary power source unit 400 may be configured as a rechargeablebattery or the like, so that it is normally charged to maintain apredetermined power using power transferred from the host through thePCI-Express host interface unit 200, and supplies the charged power tothe power source control unit 500 according to the control of the powersource control unit 500.

The power source control unit 500 supplies the power transferred fromthe host through the PCI-Express host interface unit 200 to thecontroller unit 300, the memory disk unit 100, the backup storage unit600, and the backup control unit 700.

In addition, when an error occurs in a power source of the host becausethe power transmitted from the host through the PCI-Express hostinterface unit 200 is blocked, or the power transmitted from the hostdeviates from a threshold value, the power source control unit 500receives power from the auxiliary power source unit 400 and supplies thepower to the memory disk unit 100 through the controller unit 300.

The backup storage unit 600 is configured as a low-speed non-volatilestorage device such as a hard disk and stores data of the memory diskunit 100.

The backup control unit 700 backs up data stored in the memory disk unit100 in the backup storage unit 600 by controlling the data input/outputof the backup storage unit 600 and backs up the data stored in thememory disk unit 100 in the backup storage unit 600 according to aninstruction from the host, or when an error occurs in the power sourceof the host due to a deviation of the power transmitted from the hostdeviates from the threshold value.

While the exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in formand details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit andscope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. In addition,many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation ormaterial to the teachings of this disclosure without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosurenot be limited to the particular exemplary embodiments disclosed as thebest mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that thisdisclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

The RAID controlled storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) typesupports a low-speed data processing speed for a host by adjustingsynchronization of a data signal transmitted/received between the hostand a memory disk during data communications between the host and thememory disk through a PCI-Express interface and simultaneously supportsa high-speed data processing speed for the memory disk, therebysupporting the performance of the memory to enable high-speed dataprocessing in an existing interface environment at the maximum.

The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

1. A RAID controller for a semiconductor storage device (SSD),comprising: a disk mount coupled to a set of SSD memory disk units, theset of SSD memory disk units comprising a set of volatile semiconductormemories; a disk monitoring unit coupled to the disk mount formonitoring the set of SSD memory disk units; a disk plug and playcontroller coupled to the disk monitoring unit and the disk mount forcontrolling the disk mount; and a high speed host interface coupled tothe disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for providing high-speedhost interface capabilities.
 2. The RAID controller of claim 1, furthercomprising a disk controller coupled to the high speed host interfaceand the disk monitoring unit.
 3. The RAID controller of claim 2, furthercomprising a host interface coupled to the disk controller.
 4. The RAIDcontroller of claim 1, further comprising a controller unit coupled tothe RAID controller, the controller unit comprising: a memory controlmodule for controlling data input/output of the set of SSD memory diskunits; a DMA control module which controls the memory control module tostore data in the set of SSD memory disk units or reads data from theset of SSD memory disk units to provide the data to the host, accordingto an instruction from the host received through the host interfaceunit; a buffer which buffers data according to control of the DMAcontrol module; a synchronization control module which, when receiving adata signal corresponding to the data read from the set of SSD memorydisk units by the control of the DMA control module through the DMAcontrol module and the memory control module, adjusts synchronization ofa data signal so as to have a communication speed corresponding to aPCI-Express communications protocol to transmit the synchronized datasignal to the PCI-Express host interface unit and, when receiving a datasignal from the host through the PCI-Express host interface unit,adjusts synchronization of the data signal so as to have a transmissionspeed corresponding to a communications protocol used by the set of SSDmemory disk units to transmit the synchronized data signal to the set ofSSD memory disk units through the DMA control module and the memorycontrol module; and a high-speed interface module which processes thedata transmitted/received between the synchronization control module andthe DMA control module at high speed, includes a buffer having a doublebuffer structure and a buffer having a circular queue structure, andprocesses the data transmitted/received between the synchronizationcontrol module and the DMA control without loss of high speed bybuffering the data transmitted/received between the synchronizationcontrol module and the DMA control module using the buffers andadjusting data clocks.
 5. The RAID controller of claim 4, furthercomprising: a backup storage unit coupled to the controller which storesdata of the set of SSD memory disk units; and a backup control unitcoupled to the controller which backs up data stored in the set of SSDmemory disk units in the backup storage unit according to an instructionfrom the host, or when an error occurs in the power transmitted from thehost.
 6. The RAID controller of claim 5, further comprising: anauxiliary power source unit coupled to the backup control unit which ischarged to maintain a predetermined power using the power transferredfrom the host through the host interface unit; and a power sourcecontrol unit coupled to the auxiliary power source unit which suppliesthe power transferred from the host through the host interface unit tothe controller unit, the set of SSD memory disk units, the backupstorage unit, and the backup control unit, and when the powertransferred from the host through the host interface unit is blocked, oran error occurs in the power transferred from the host, receives powerfrom the auxiliary power source unit and supplies the power to thememory disk until through the controller unit.
 7. The RAID controller ofclaim 1, the host interface unit being a PCI-Express host interfaceunit.
 8. The RAID controller of claim 1, each of the set of SSD memorydisk units comprising: a host interface unit; a DMA controller coupledto the host interface unit; an ECC controller coupled to the DMAcontroller; a memory controller coupled to the ECC controller; and amemory array coupled to the memory controller, the memory arraycomprising at least one memory block.
 9. The RAID controller of claim 1,the set of SSD memory disk units providing storage for an attachedcomputer device.
 10. A RAID controller for a PCI-Express semiconductorstorage device (SSD), comprising: a disk mount coupled to a set ofPCI-Express SSD memory disk units, the set of PCI-Express SSD memorydisk units comprising a set of volatile semiconductor memories; a diskmonitoring unit coupled to the disk mount for monitoring the set ofPCI-Express memory disk units; a disk plug and play controller coupledto the disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for controlling the diskmount; a high speed host interface coupled to the disk monitoring unitand the disk mount for providing high-speed host interface capabilities;a disk controller coupled to the high speed host interface and the diskmonitoring unit; and a host interface coupled to the disk controller.11. The RAID controller of claim 10, further comprising a controllerunit coupled to the RAID controller, the controller unit comprising: amemory control module for controlling data input/output of the set ofPCI-Express memory disk units; a DMA control module which controls thememory control module to store data in the set of PCI-Express memorydisk units or reads data from the set of PCI-Express memory disk unitsto provide the data to the host, according to an instruction from thehost received through the host interface unit; a buffer which buffersdata according to control of the DMA control module; a synchronizationcontrol module which, when receiving a data signal corresponding to thedata read from the set of PCI-Express memory disk units by the controlof the DMA control module through the DMA control module and the memorycontrol module, adjusts synchronization of a data signal so as to have acommunication speed corresponding to a PCI-Express communicationsprotocol to transmit the synchronized data signal to the PCI-Expresshost interface unit, and, when receiving a data signal from the hostthrough the PCI-Express host interface unit, adjusts synchronization ofthe data signal so as to have a transmission speed corresponding to acommunications protocol used by the set of PCI-Express memory disk unitsto transmit the synchronized data signal to the set of PCI-Expressmemory disk units through the DMA control module and the memory controlmodule; and a high-speed interface module which processes the datatransmitted/received between the synchronization control module and theDMA control module at high speed, includes a buffer having a doublebuffer structure and a buffer having a circular queue structure, andprocesses the data transmitted/received between the synchronizationcontrol module and the DMA control without loss of high speed bybuffering the data transmitted/received between the synchronizationcontrol module and the DMA control module using the buffers andadjusting data clocks.
 12. The RAID controller of claim 11, furthercomprising: a backup storage unit coupled to the controller which storesdata of the set of PCI-Express memory disk units; and a backup controlunit coupled to the controller which backs up data stored in the set ofPCI-Express memory disk units in the backup storage unit, according toan instruction from the host or when an error occurs in the powertransmitted from the host.
 13. The RAID controller of claim 12, furthercomprising: an auxiliary power source unit coupled to the backup controlunit which is charged to maintain a predetermined power using the powertransferred from the host through the host interface unit; and a powersource control unit coupled to the auxiliary power source unit whichsupplies the power transferred from the host through the host interfaceunit to the controller unit, the set of PCI-Express memory disk units,the backup storage unit, and the backup control unit, and when the powertransferred from the host through the host interface unit is blocked oran error occurs in the power transferred from the host, receives powerfrom the auxiliary power source unit and supplies the power to thememory disk until through the controller unit.
 14. The RAID controllerof claim 10, each of the set of PCI-Express memory disk unitscomprising: a host interface unit; a DMA controller coupled to the hostinterface unit; an ECC controller coupled to the DMA controller; amemory controller coupled to the ECC controller; and a memory arraycoupled to the memory controller, the memory array comprising at leastone memory block.
 15. The RAID controller of claim 10, the set ofPCI-Express memory disk units providing storage for an attached computerdevice.
 16. A method for providing a RAID controller for a semiconductorstorage device (SSD), comprising: providing a disk mount coupled to aset of SSD memory disk units, the set of SSD memory disk unitscomprising a set of volatile semiconductor memories; providing a diskmonitoring unit coupled to the disk mount for monitoring the set of SSDmemory disk units; providing a disk plug and play controller coupled tothe disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for controlling the diskmount; and providing a high speed host interface coupled to the diskmonitoring unit and the disk mount for providing high-speed hostinterface capabilities.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprisingproviding a disk controller coupled to the high speed host interface andthe disk monitoring unit.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprisingproviding a host interface coupled to the disk controller.
 19. The RAIDcontroller of claim 1, further comprising providing a controller unitcoupled to the RAID controller, the controller unit comprising: a memorycontrol module for controlling data input/output of the set of SSDmemory disk units; a DMA control module which controls the memorycontrol module to store data in the set of SSD memory disk units orreads data from the set of SSD memory disk units to provide the data tothe host, according to an instruction from the host received through thehost interface unit; a buffer which buffers data according to control ofthe DMA control module; a synchronization control module which, whenreceiving a data signal corresponding to the data read from the set ofSSD memory disk units by the control of the DMA control module throughthe DMA control module and the memory control module, adjustssynchronization of a data signal so as to have a communication speedcorresponding to a PCI-Express communications protocol to transmit thesynchronized data signal to the PCI-Express host interface unit and,when receiving a data signal from the host through the PCI-Express hostinterface unit, adjusts synchronization of the data signal so as to havea transmission speed corresponding to a communications protocol used bythe set of SSD memory disk units to transmit the synchronized datasignal to the set of SSD memory disk units through the DMA controlmodule and the memory control module; and a high-speed interface modulewhich processes the data transmitted/received between thesynchronization control module and the DMA control module at high speed,and includes a buffer having a double buffer structure and a bufferhaving a circular queue structure, and processes the datatransmitted/received between the synchronization control module and theDMA control without loss of high speed by buffering the datatransmitted/received between the synchronization control module and theDMA control module using the buffers and adjusting data clocks.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, further comprising: providing a backup storage unitcoupled to the controller which stores data of the set of SSD memorydisk units; and providing a backup control unit coupled to thecontroller which backs up data stored in the set of SSD memory diskunits in the backup storage unit, according to an instruction from thehost or when an error occurs in the power transmitted from the host.